West Virginia Democrat. [volume] (Charles Town, W. Va.) 1885-1890, 1887-09-09

Will not split.
3. 1t is not affected by change of
temperature, and hence has an adj
vantage over sheet metal as roofing
material.
4. Whereas in its natural condi-
tion it is affected by moisture, it
may be rendered water proof by sat
urating with asphalt or by variety
of other treatments.
5. 1t is a non-resonant and we'll
fitted to prevent the passage of
sound.
6. 1t is non conductor of heat.
7. 1t can be made of incombusti-
BILE asbestus, or rendered fire-resist-
ing by chemical treatment,
We can therefore produce large
sheets flexible or stiff that will not
conduct sound, heat or cold, and
that will prevent the passage Of air,
moisture and fire.
Paper pulp is now made of such
variety of substances, each with
its special qualities, that it is reas-
enable to suppose that we have not
yet reached by any means the limits
of its usefulness as building mate
rial.
By combining paper pulp with
other substances and solidifying the
mass by pressure we may produce
material that will replace wood for
many purposes, and the ease with
which it may be made into sheets of
any width and thickness that will
not warp or shrink from heat or
cold or dampness indicates the SUI
periority Of this material.
The commercial success of the
paper cottage will depend upon the
discovery of some very cheap mate
rial for the pulp, and also cheap
process for compacting the same and
rendering it waterproof 1t would
seem that there was wood enough in
the country to make cheap pulp,bu
no compound has yet been placed
upon the market that will fully
meet the above conditions. 1t is in
the line of American ingenuity and
inventive skill, and will no doubt
soon reach a practical stage.
Paper may be used for the deafen-
ing of floors. The curling up of
matched flooring, when Iapplied to
wet mortar, has its disadvantages,
and when buildings must be finish
ed in a hurry the passage of sound
NAV be -stopnad h,,zs nor, reshap ps-
combined with mineral wood, with
out introducing moisture intoa
building already too damp. Arch
itects, in the attempt to stop the
passage of sound, through floors and
partitions, try mortar and plaster,
sand, ashes and concrete between
joints and on the top of them, paper
and felt, mineral wood, air spaces,
but who can tell how to stop the
most sound for the least money?
Another architect suggests that
something may be built in the fol-
lowing manner: The frames of the
houses to be of wood, the siding to
be of building paper laid to break
joints and weather, the lower edges
to be cut into scallops, waving lines
or other shapes to suit. Around the
openings the paper to fasten into
rabbits and the joints to be made
tight. Ths roof is to be made much
the same way, leaving the effect of
tiles, shingles or whatever the de-
signer may choose. Cutters, exte-
rior architraves or other parts may
be stamped or nodded in paper
mache, some for ornaments and de
tails around porches, bay windows,
or to ornament exterior features.
The entire exterior may be either
finished with spar varnish or other
paint to make the same impervious
to weather and to decorate at the
same time.
The interior features, even the
walls and ceilings of house, to be
much the same as the outside and
decorated in much the same way
The floors thus may be made of stiff
pasteboard where carpets are used,
and it is possible even to leave them
bare. if finished with some spar var
nish or other preparation hard
enough to preserve them from the
ordinary wear and tear of the floors.
All of the above may be done now,
and probably at saving over the
usual methods. Of course the prac-
teal application requires careful
and thoughtfuj investigation, but
perhaps there may be no need Of
new material or condition not al
ready close at hand. 1t may not he
possible to make the sash, stairs or
blinds of paper at present, although
it would seem an easy problem to
solve.
Paper is practicable for all parts
of house except the construction
details. A house thus built can be
erected quicker, cheaper and in a
more cleanly manner, and moreover
filter to live in, on account of the
absence of moisture The decorators
have already shown that there is
more value than the constructional
one, and artists and architects are
obtaining some fine results.
When paper shall come into gen
H. r,nra